What is Cancer?

Cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. In a healthy adult, millions of cells grow, divide and die each day to replace worn-out or dying cells or to repair injury. This process is tightly controlled. Should the genetic material of a particular cell become damaged as a result of smoking, pollutants in the environment, or other factors, that cell can begin to multiply uncontrollably. Over time, these cancer cells can accumulate and form tumors, which can harm the body in a number of ways. Tumors can invade and destroy nearby tissue. Some tumors secrete hormones or enzymes that disrupt the body's normal functions. As tumors grow, they develop networks of blood vessels to provide them with nourishment. They begin to rob healthy cells of essential nutrients. For specific information and interactive tools, click here. See also: Prostate Cancer, Breast Cancer

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Research News

Featuring Harvard Medical School and Affiliated Hospitals

Circulating tumor cells reveal signature of lung cancers

Aresenic-based Therapy Helps Eradicate Leukemia Initiating Cells.

Sunitinib may slow growth and spread of liver cancer.

Drug successfully treats chronic blood cancer in mice.

Scans spot hidden tumors in rare cancer syndrome.

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Transparent fish to make human biology clearer.

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Going for the jugular in melanoma

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Homeless cells find temporary lodging--and their demise.

Study suggests brain tumors need 'targeted' drugs.

"Western" Diet linked to risk of cancer recurrence.

Study Finds New Suppresor of lung tumors.

Bone Marrow Transplant After Chemo can restore fertility.

Promising Treatment Target found in Hodgkin lymphoma.

Treatment with NSAIDS Confirmed to reduce colorectal cancer risk.

Precancerous Blood Diseases can be products of their environment.

Stem Cell Identified in common childhood sarcoma.

Diet May Influence Survival after treatment for stage III colon cancer.

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Health & Science Articles

From the Harvard Community

A Deadly Disparity Black people are more likey to die of some cancers

Advice for Survivors from a Harvard doctor

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Hormones in Milk can be Dangerous

New Cancer Detector Developed Fast, sensitive, and reliable.

Blood Vessel Drugs Halt Cancer Growth They were once considered failures.

A New Way to Identify Cancers is Found Works for all kinds of tumors.

Dana-Farber Launches New Center Will expedite cancer drug discovery and development.

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Scientific Reports

From HMS Faculty Newsletter Focus

MicroRNA Regulates Tumor Stem Cells

Cells Invade Neighboring Cells, But Most Die in Host

Tumor’s Molecular Missile Blunts Body’s Defense.

Small Synthetic Molecule curbs disease growth.

Shift into Neutral Mechanism found in benign disease.

Anti-inflammatories? Anticancer Role Aspirin, other NSAIDs block cell cycle, boost cell death.

Study Rewrites Biology of Tanning Could Fair-skinned people get a tan’s cancer protection?

Attacking Cancer?s Sweet Tooth Strategy may be effective against tumors.

Molecule that Inflames Cancer May Also Dampen it's Spread Some therapies against Akt Could Encourage Metastasis

Studies Chip Away at Sex Hormone Roles in Prostate Cancer and Breast Cancer.

Smart cancer drug passes test against multiple myeloma

Body's Own Angiogenesis Inhibitors Check Tumor Growth

Model for melanoma fingers culprit mutations.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors Revived, Revealed in Progress Against Cancer

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